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Post by kizi on Nov 6, 2013 0:30:45 GMT 1
I'm always having to find new ways to get my Mac to take meds! He can spit out a quarter tablet after swallowing a whole sausage... And as he ages his tummy is becoming more and more sensitive but he's also on more and more tablets. Right now as a sort of last attempt to buy him more happy time he's on no less than 6 tablets in the morning, and 4 in evening dinner, most big, so halved or even quartered! Anyway after ruling out all the tricks he knows, and all the things that work well but he can't have-like grated cheese! I bought two jam jars (one spare!), a chicken breast and hey presto magic tablet syrup! I boiled the chicken then reduced it to 500ml. Gave it a whiz with the blender, cooled it, marked my 500ml jar with 50ml increments and put my chicken broth in the fridge. I'm assured it will be good in the fridge for 5 days... So, all excited about doggy dinner time, I piled on the tablets, two of which are capsules so have to put the contents (powder) on his food, and put on a few spoonfuls of chicken broth. Fan-bloody-tastic!!! Delighted dog! Healthy treat! Bowl cleaned spotless and all tablets suitably disguised!! Yay! I just felt like sharing! Just incase you need an easy way to disguise tablets in feed! A chicken breast cost me €1.60 (I got a good one!!) and the jar which can be reused €2, for 10 tablet sittings! Cheapest option ever too!! The house did stink a bit for a while after cooking for 1.5 hours but hey.. Still win win! I know I've not discovered chicken broth! Just wish someone told me years ago! (Yes, I know, it's a lot of tablets..! All to improve and prolong life a little more... 3 week trial...)
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Post by gwenoakes on Nov 6, 2013 9:18:48 GMT 1
I have to say I have never had a prob with Bella our Staffie in getting tablets down her, but having said that she has not had to be on many and only for a short while.
I am glad you have found something that is not only good and acceptable for his tummy, but that he will take. Well done for thinking outside the box, I will certainly remember it, thanks.
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Post by ruthp on Nov 6, 2013 10:21:29 GMT 1
Well done you. Sounds like a good solution. I've always found Shipham's or Prince's Chicken Paste works well - you can make a ball of it around the tablet and my lot (cats and dogs) tend to just gulp it down without even noticing there's anything inside. Less healthy than your chicken broth of course!
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Post by kizi on Nov 6, 2013 10:59:46 GMT 1
Hmm never seen that here! That would have been handy till now! Last time I couldn't get him to eat them with his feed I had to resort to pate but it works out very expensive long term and can only find ones that must be used within 3 days, so very pricy! Hopefully chicken broth continues to work.. This mornings bowl of tablets was scoffed, the bowl polished and then thrown at me, looking for more!!!!
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Post by julz on Nov 6, 2013 21:32:27 GMT 1
Only time i've had a problem with tablets was when Tara was on Tramadol and the capsules were sticking to her tongue... but other than that normal tabs are fine... worth knowing a trick though.
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Post by happysnail on Nov 6, 2013 22:38:17 GMT 1
We lost our elderly retriever a few weeks ago and near the end she was taking quite a few tablets every day. She was suspicious of any 'treats' if both dogs weren't getting and wouldn't take anything unless Moya got too. So if you have another dog, get them in on the act too (if the other dog wants it, they'll want it too- especially if the other doesn't have a tablet to exact!) We found honey or chips used to be a much bigger incentive than meaty treats like pate so that might be worth trying.
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Post by kizi on Nov 6, 2013 23:34:49 GMT 1
Sorry about your dog x I have 3 dogs! And the other two are under 5kg.. Mac is 30kg! So if he's getting 6+ tablets twice a day that's just too much to try give them as a treat and for the girls too! But I agree with you! When we had just mac he could go two days without bothering to eat his food and even a worming tablet was an ordeal to get into him! Soon as we got a second dog and there was competition food was for eating immediately and never looked back on that front! Problem with giving them all treats for mac to eat his meds is if he does spit a tablet out the girls are like lightening and will have it before I know what it is and with the difference in size alone, they would be massively overdosed on steroids or antibiotics or even alzymers (Sp?? Sorry!) medication. Can't risk it! When it's worming tablets etc that works fine but mac is on this many tablets for 3 weeks to see how it works, if good then indefinitely, so I can't be giving them ham, pate, butter etc every day, twice a day x 6 for how ever long mac decides life's ok.. So that's why I needed an alternative! Chips is a funny one! Never thought of them! Though knowing mac he'd still spit the tablet out!! He's nearly 10 and on various meds for many years! He's a pro!!! The chicken broth is working better than I could imagine!! He can't get enough of his food now! Which is good too because one of the tables could reduce appetite.. No way that will happen now hopefully!!
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Post by portiabuzz on Nov 7, 2013 13:00:28 GMT 1
good one kizi xx
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Post by kizi on Nov 10, 2013 22:24:04 GMT 1
Well, the chicken works an absolute treat I have to say! Wish I knew about it before, makes giving tablets easy peasy! Unfortunately as feared though, they have upset his stomach Back to the vets tomorrow... having truly exhausted every option.. I'm sure she'll come up with something else to try, I'm just not sure it's fair anymore.. We were trying to improve his quality of life to buy a little more time.. He has terrible allergies, almost constant skin infections, the last few months have been no fun at all for him, doggie dementia, side effects to allergy meds (tested for diabetes and cushings clear but borderline), and now more diarrhoea from the mildest antibiotics available, used to treat gastro infections.. The dementia drugs may be contributing, but the last time he got diarrhoea it took a long time to sort on very expensive (€45 a week) food... It sounds like torture, he's not that miserable, but I am! Sigh...
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Post by happysnail on Nov 10, 2013 23:16:38 GMT 1
Good luck. They're so canny aren't they. Hope the broth works. x
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Post by ruthp on Nov 11, 2013 22:52:21 GMT 1
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Post by portiabuzz on Nov 12, 2013 17:02:32 GMT 1
sorry kizi xxx
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Post by kizi on Nov 12, 2013 20:21:21 GMT 1
He's improved a bit, so waiting, the more antibiotics he can get into him the better chance of them working to clear the skin infection which is def improving the last few days, he's on day 8 antibiotics. Must stop them immediately if tummy goes bad again but fingers crossed he gets enough!
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Post by gwenoakes on Nov 12, 2013 22:21:08 GMT 1
Fingers and everything else firmly crossed here, Kizi. XXX
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Post by HolsBols on Nov 15, 2013 17:56:31 GMT 1
everything crossed for you Kizi xx
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